I don’t watch UFC or MMA fights but I want to talk about something to make a spiritual point.

This weekend’s UFC 229 became big news and trending on social media because of the Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Conor McGregor fight. If you didn’t know Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Irishman Conor McGregor. I’m no fan of McGregor; he’s vulgar, crass and plainly has no class. I’m happy he was defeated. I’m sympathetic with Nurmagomedov. But Nurmagomedov then did something shocking. After his victory he spit at McGregor. He then threw his mouth piece and jumped out of the octagon to attack someone on McGregor’s camp. Chaos followed. Sadly so many times in moments of passion and rage people don’t think about the consequences beyond the heat of the moment. He might even be stripped of his victory.

I saw this headline that “Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father says he’ll punish son ‘tougher’ than UFC does.” I know in a lot of today’s news headline the mainstream media can demonize the Russians. But here I thought Khabib’s father show real class. The father is a professional. A professional fighting coach. This man is intense. He’s had his own son at a young age train by wrestling bears. That’s crazy. There’s video of that on Youtube. So when I saw the headline that Khabib’s father is going to punish his son tougher than UFC does, I don’t want to even try to imagine what that looks like. Somehow I don’t think his dad is exaggerating.

Here is what the father said:

I will impose a punishment tougher than the UFC’s. I warned him. For me, discipline comes first. You do whatever you want in the Octagon, [but] outside — this is the border of civilians, where there are children, women, strangers.”

I really respect his father for saying it. Outside the Octagon there’s civilians. Something about it speaks to me that makes me not only say “Amen,” but a Marine “ORAH!” Obviously Khabib is skilled in fighting. But with great skills also come great responsibility. Responsibilities towards others.

This got me thinking about the Christian life and spiritual warfare. Of course our spiritual warfare is not physical, it is spiritual, ethical and even doctrinal. Apologetics, the art and science of rationally defending the Christian faith is spiritual warfare. So is theology. But we also got to be careful how we go about defending the faith or advocating and defending true theology while also refuting false worldviews and theology.

You might have heard the term “Cage-Stage Calvinists.” The late RC Sproul has even written about it. Sproul said

Sometimes we are even angry that no one told us about the true extent of our depravity and the majesty of God’s sovereign grace before.

This gives birth to cage-stage Calvinists, those newly minted Reformed believers who are so aggressive and impatient that they should be locked in a cage for a little while so that they can cool down and mature a little in the faith. ”

Zeal is good but zeal is one of those virtues, when it is a virtue, that doesn’t come alone. After all people can be zealously wrong. Think of 9/11 and the zealous hijackers. Even with zeal for the truth there’s also the importance of other Christian character one must foster such as wisdom and gentleness.

I don’t think there’s only “cage stage” Calvinists. I’ve also seen foaming-in-the-mouth-apologists. Or wannabe apologists. I know because I was one.

I remember ten years ago during my first year in seminary. I was going to go to a university campus ministry to do an apologetics’ Q&A night with Andy, the other blogger on Veritas Domain. I was looking forward to it because I was looking forward to a “fight.” There’s a guy that has been something of an intellectual bully against some of the ministries’ members because of their Christian faith. I don’t like bullies. I was growing in my “apologetics muscles” and techniques so to speak. I had a lot of pride that strangely I was blind to. I thought the “Eagle” has landed. But it was more of my ego that landed.

That night’s meeting was recorded in audio. I thought I pummeled the atheists. And I enjoyed it that he knew it. I enjoyed every bit of it. I even thought I was a gentleman since after the evening was over I gave him a ride home in my car so he didn’t have to walk home in the rain.

But after the meeting I asked Andy how I did. I was surprised the response was negative. He pointed out how often I cut him (Andy) off. He pointed how immature I was to say “oh! Could I answer him???” Many times. He pointed out how it was turning people off. Even Christians. I asked him how did I do in terms of the intellectual aspect of things and he said I did fine but I was missing the big picture. I was surprised but I listened. Then I listened a few days later to the audio. I don’t know how some people like to hear the recording of themselves preaching and teaching but I always felt I hear many of my flaws when I listen to myself. But in this instance it was worst. I felt ashamed. I felt small. That was because I was a small man. I was even rude with other Christians. And people took this in silently. I learned a lot from that night. Lots.

For those in the front lines of evangelism, apologetics and theology we must watch out that we are not “cage stage fill-in-the-blank.” But sometimes we think we are not cage stage because we have “advanced” from our initial discovery; we are more knowledgeable or “skilled’ in apologetics, theology, or witnessing beyond our early days. “Cage stage are for starters” you might say, lifting your chin up. “I’m not like them.” But there’s another stage we also must watch out for, a stage when we have “arrive” at being even more knowledgeable and we can develop a “Nurmagomedov rage phase.” It’s worst than cage stage, its an out-of-the-octagon-ready-to-raze-and-waste-everyone phase. Sadly you can be really good at arguing and others might be intimidated to say anything to you about your problem. But if someone does, they are a God-send.

The only antidote for the “cage stage” and those in the “Nurmagomedov rage phase” is discovering yet again what’s so amazing about amazing grace. Grace is unmerited favor. Unmerited favor from God. Look at the Cross. Remind yourself and meditate on the truth we don’t deserve anything from God; that we weak ourselves and it is His sovereign grace we are even saved or have faith to begin with. Rediscover afresh the Gospel again. Let it move you to become a loving evangelist/apologist/pastor/teacher that though you are trained to take down theological and philosophical Goliaths because God has trained you in your early days to take on theological and philosophical bears, those same theological and apologetics’ muscles also uplifts spiritual babes and infants and the weak among us.

Recently we had a pastor speak on Thessalonians, especially “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” In the world far too often we instead encourage the unruly, rebuke the weak, mock the fainthearted, and just make a mess of things in general. Love is patient and strength is gentle. Romans fifteen also tells us, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” That’s how you can tell people are genuinely strong and powerful, they always will provide cover for those smaller and weaker then them.

I like how you describe how we often mess up the Thessalonians’ passage: “In the world far too often we instead encourage the unruly, rebuke the weak, mock the fainthearted, and just make a mess of things in general.” That is very true of how we messed it up!

Jim, thank you. Many times our spiritual two-edged sword becomes a physical one. We use it on others when it is meant for us. Meekness and temperance are usually the last that we experience in our Christian fruit-bearing. Blessings as you (and we all) continue to mature in our walk with our Lord.

“Meekness and temperance are usually the last that we experience in our Christian fruit-bearing.”
That is very true! I hope the Lord bless your upcoming Wednesday Frances and that your writings will be used by the Lord!

Thank you for this. I think we all have those moments. I have only recently figured out how much pride has factored into my perspective and I’m working on cleaning it out. It’s impossible on my own—I need His grace and power. Thanks be to God for His infinite love and abundant patience!

As i grow more in my walk with God, my awe of his saving grace grows. At the same time I’ve become more aware that His grace now only saves, but sanctify! We do need His grace to be empowered to have our lives cleaned up, and truly we can be thankful to God! Amen, I hope you and your children and family are doing well

Ah yeah that’s another one I forgot…discernment ministries and bloggers. I do think there’s a place and role that has been helpful in my life with some of them but I also see how some can also lack discernment and also attack something they didn’t understand or were not fair to the person or group they are critiquing…I’ve had some negative interactions in the past with some of those when I brought up a point of clarity or correction. Keep on doing what you are doing though Tom with the level of clarity, accuracy and charity.

Thank you for this this. I have been guilty of taking spiritual warfare into the physical realm and that’s when things can became difficult to deal with. Is also a learning process where we learn to do things God’s way and mature in our Christian walk.

I’m very encouraged to hear that. By the way as a result of your posts of HeartCry testimonies it led me to pay attention more to HeartCry on Youtube more and therefore fueled my prayers for the persecuted Church.

I’m so blessed to hear that, brother. The recent posts have been hard to hear, particularly about our brothers in Asia and Myanmar. It’s a stark reminder, the world is not our friend! I missed the post yesterday, I had it planned out then didn’t get it finished. I hate when that happens, but at least next Wednesday’s is already mostly written 🙂 Lord bless you, my friend!

Amen and Amen and Amen. On the flip side there is no such call for civility among the enemies of the Cross. Christians are slandered and sued with ever increasing fervor. As mobs harass conservative politicians this will soon spread to mob attacks on Christians. Hollywood portrays us as evil incarnate, as a cancer that must be excised from society. This zealous persecution will not be gradual. It will explode exponentially overnight. A mere bumper sticker will get you dragged out of your car pummeled. How then shall we respond?

Oh you KNOW I greatly appreciate this post. I have written about this same issue a couple of times. You and I may not always agree but we are always civil in our disagreements and leave as brothers in Christ.

[…] Amy’s post, SlimJim of The Domain for Truth writes Beyond cage stage: Beware of being a Nurmagomedov rage phase Calvinist/Apologist. Given the angry climate on social media these days, all of us could probably benefit from his […]

There are now numerous articles from Calvinists trying to explain away the dark spirit that has now started to consume them.

They’re so mad no one told them? That’s gotta be a joke.

They’ve now made an accusation against God. He doesn’t love everyone. Prayer doesn’t do anything. 99% of the Word now doesn’t make sense so they are consumed with trying to explain it away.

So they go from wild animals to just confrontational arrogant accusers of all other Christians? If they simply trace it back in history to John Calvin they’ll see themselves. Ask the prisoners of Geneva if there was any joy in salvation. It’s not a stage. It the fruit of living in inexcusable error.